After the Puppy Raiser returns the dog to CCI at approximately 15 months of age, the dog attends a six-month or, in some cases, nine-month course of Advanced Training with professional instructors at a Regional Training Center. The first two weeks, dogs are screened, undergoing x-rays and medical tests as well as tests to evaluate their temperaments. Some dogs are released at this point due to medical or temperament problems. The others continue into Advanced Training.

The first semester, which lasts three months, reviews and builds upon the basic obedience commands the dogs learned as puppies. It is during this semester that the dogs begin to work around the wheelchair and learn the retrieve command. Those that pass the first semester continue into their second semester of Advanced Training.

The second three-month semester finishes the commands the dogs will need to know such as pull, and light-switch. They are also taken out to train in the field and to determine whether the dogs can handle the stresses of different environments. During training, the dogs are screened to see if they truly have what it takes to become a CCI Assistance Dog. The dogs can be released at any time.

In Team Training, the dogs are paired with a recipient and both human and dog are trained to work together. This two-week session teaches the recipients proper care and handling of the Canine Companion. If both the dog and recipient pass the two-week course, they attend a Graduation Ceremony in which the Puppy Raiser passes the leash to the Graduate and the Graduate officially receives the Canine Companion.

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